Welcome to the Laboratory for Spaceflight and Planetary Exploration. The lab aims to leverage novel techniques in astrodynamics and atmospheric flight mechanics, combined with guidance, navigation, control (GNC) technologies to enable the next generation of space exploration. The lab has core mission design capabilities for research in astrodynamics, atmospheric flight mechanics, and broad search algorithms for planetary exploration missions. Current research projects range from trajectory and mission designs, entry, aerocapture, and aerogravity-assists; atmospheric probe concepts; and robust spacecraft parameter estimation.
Sponsors and Collaborators
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
News
- We received a new funding from NSF on Conference: Workshop on Open & Integrated Network Testbeds for Research & Translation in collaboration with Prof. Alex Wyglinski and Prof. Bo Tang, both with WPI ECE Department. [September 2024]
- We received a new funding from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to develop a rapid mission architecture tool for planetary science missions. [September 2024]
- Congratulations to Oleksii Padun for receiving the Student Travel Award to present a conference paper on Estimation and Control of Dynamic Mass and Moment for Spacecraft Attitude Simulator at the 38th Small Satellite Conferences. [August 2024]
- Congratulations to Isaac Garry for receiving IPPW Student Scholarship to give a poster presentation on Parametric and Trade Analysis of Aerobraking Mission Design at the 21st International Planetary Probe Workshop. He also receives the Summer Research Opportunity from Massachusetts Space Grant. [June 2024]
- Congratulations to Estafania Contreras Rivas in participating in the 10-week Early Research Experience in E-Term (EREE) program at WPI to explore Interplanetary trajectory design for sample return missions. [May 2024]
- Dr. Ye Lu joins the Aerospace Engineering Department at WPI. [August 2023]
- Andrew Pertz presented a poster at the 20th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW) in France on Co-delivery of multiple small entry probes using aerocapture maneuver. He received a student scholarship from IPPW! Congratulations. [August 2023]
- Congratulations to Zach Fitzgerald in successfully defending his Master thesis on Uncertainty Propagation for Low-Thrust Trajectory Design. [June 2023]
- Dr. Ye Lu presents a paper on Single-Event Lift Modulation Aerocapture for Small, Low-Cost Interplanetary Missions at the IEEE Aerospace Conference. [March 2023]
- Congratulations to Zach Fitzgerald for receiving the Master’s Fellowship from Ohio Space Grant Consortium. [April 2022]
- Godwin Shitta is a student fellow in the 2021 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE). [May 2021]
- Oswaldo Santana presents a paper on Aerocapture for Small Atmospheric Sampling Probe at the 35th Annual Small Satellite Conference on August 7-12, 2021. [April 2021]
- Read about these interesting white papers that were submitted to Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. Aerocapture for Ice Giants, SmallSat Aerocapture, Titan Aerogravity-assist. [March 2021]
- Dr. Ye Lu becomes a member of the AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Technical Committee. [March 2021]
- Congratulations to Brennon O’Connor for placing Second Place in the SURE Three Minute Thesis Competition!
- Oswaldo Santana presents a poster on Venus Aerocapture at the 18th meeting (virtual) of the Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG). [November 2020]
- Congratulations to Brennon O’Connor for becoming an official participant of the 2020 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program at Kent State University. [May 2020]